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Author Archives: Mike Palmer
Habit Number 1: Do a Good Job
Doing good work is a business virtue. Settling for mediocrity, when the available time and resources allow better work, is a vice. The ethical organization seeks to develop a culture in which excellence is standard operating procedure in all aspects of the organization’s life. Continue reading
Fiduciary Judgments in Non-profits
Was the Komen Foundation’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood consistent with or in violation of the board’s fiduciary duty? How should we analyze such matters? This is part one or a two-part post on the topic. Continue reading
Posted in In the News
Tagged corporation, fiduciary duty, judgment, non-profit, Susan G. Komen Foundation
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Does Misogyny in High School Fuel Sexual Harassment?
Is verbal and physical violence against women on college and university campuses an outgrowth of misogyny that is allowed to flourish in middle and high school? What can we do to stop it? Continue reading
Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: Perverse Incentives on Wall Street
The MF Global client trust fund scandal raises yet again the question of how to eliminate the system that perversely encourages people in the financial industry to gamble not only with other peoples’ money, but also with the financial system itself. The Russian adage, trust but verify, applies. Continue reading
Posted in In the News
Tagged ethics, financial crisis, incentives, MF Global, Wall Street
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Should a Board Member Resign over CEO’s High Pay?
A reader of Lucy Kellaway’s column in the Financial Times writes that, as a member of the compensation committee of a board of directors, she recently objected to a 20% increase in the CEO’s compensation. Continue reading
Getting Away With Grand Theft Economy
The recent 60 Minutes program on fraud in the financial industry throws yet another log on the fire of rage at the failure to hold accountable those who committed fraud as they trashed our financial system and pushed the economy into the Great Recession. Continue reading
Is All Fair in Love, War, and Football?
In the discussion about Ndamukong Suh’s recent transgressions on the gridiron, the hoary argument was put forward one more time that rules constraining excessive or unnecessary violence in inherently violent activities like war and football are pointless. The argument is false. Continue reading
Posted in In the News
Tagged ethical standards, football, mitigating harm, Ndamukong Suh, violence
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Let’s Clear Up Some Confusion About Sexual Harassment
Some journalists and pundits appear to be uncertain about workplace harassment. Let’s clear up some of the confusion. Continue reading
Posted in In the News, Workplace Harassment
Tagged Herman Cain, sexual harassment, workplace harassment
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What is a Great Organization?
Any organization can be great. The clerk’s office of a bankruptcy court can be great. A parts supplier can be great. The economic development agency can be great. Greatness is not a function of size. But it might be a function of purpose, dedication to a mission that inspires people to rise above the immediate task in the service of a larger, more meaningful goal. Continue reading
Posted in The Good Company
Tagged competence, excellence, good company, good organization, high-functioning, quality
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